Folding table



Nov. 29, 1932. PASSANANTE 1,889,694

' FOLDING TABLE Filed Aug. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor a( ffaa'aan c2222? By v Patented Nov. 29, 1932 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES G..PASSANAITTE, F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY FOLDIN TABLE Application filedA-u-gust 13, 1931. Serial No. 556,896.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in foldingtables, and the primary object of the invention is to provide meanswhereby the hinged legs of the table may be readily, easily,conveniently and compactly fold-ed relative to the top of the table. i I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a leggedsupporting structure for tables, chairs, pedestals and the llke whereinthe legs are hingedly connected to the Work supported, and are soconnected with one another as to facilitate the swinging of the legsfrom a supporting to .a non-supporting ori 1 folded position and viceversa; and further whereby the legs may be swung to either of the above.namedpositions simultaneously one with the other.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma study of the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying. drawings,

wherein: 1

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of .a table embodying the features of thepresent invention, the legs being shown folded inwardly to anon-supporting position.

Figure 2 is' a vertical transverse fragmentary sectional elevat-ionalview through the table illustrating certain features of the invention tobe hereinafter more fully referred to.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the table.

Figure 4; is a fragmentary sectional elevational view showing the mannerof hingedly mounting the leg and hinge connector.

Figure 5is a fragmentary detail sectional elevational view takensubstantially on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially on the line6-6 of F ig ure 3.

With reference more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that inthe illustrated embodiment of the invention, the table comprises the topmember 10 mounted Within a rectangular frame 11. Although I have herereferred to the member 10 asbeingthe top of a table, it is to beunderstood that the seat portion of achair or the like;

In carrying out the invention, there is. hingedly connected as at 12 tothe top '10 at the underside ofthe top a plurality .of-relatively shortbars or cleats 13., the bars-or cleats 13 being arranged one at eachcorner of the table and extending substantially at right angles relativeto one another.

Each "of the bars 1-3 at that end thereof proximate to an adjacentcorner of the table, has suitably secured thereto one end of asupporting leg 14. V

Each of three of the legs 14 is connected with a bar 13 to which asecond. one'of said three legs is connected, through the medium 1 of; astructurefwhich also serves as a brace, this structure being in thenature'of a hinge and consisting of a pair of leafs or links 15,

16 of which, the former or link 15 is fixedlyconnected as at 17 to thereferred bar or cleat 1-3 by the same screws forming part of one of thehinges-12, or in any other suitable manner (see Figure-4L). The latteror link nection 18 with one leg 14.

- The sliding hinge connection 18 just referred to may be of anysuitable structure, however for the sake of example I have-shown thesame as consistingof a hinge-plate 1-9 se-'-' cured to an intermediateportion of a leg 14, and a second hinge .plate '20 secured :to the saidend of the link or leaf 16,the last referred to hinge plate 20 beingprovided with a pair of relatively spaced loop or lugs supportingi thehinge pin, and the hinge plate 19 being provided with a single'loop orlug slid-ably engaging the hinge pin between the loops or lugs of thehinge plate'20.

The fourth one of said legs 14 is "braced,-"-"- "through the med-ium ofthe hinged members 15 and 16 of the referred to combined hinge and bracestructure directly from the table to the under faceof the table :top 10in aline- --ment with that barv 13 paralleling the edge ofthe table top,adjacent to which edge the member 15 27.832113 21 is hingedzto'theztalole top.

The members 15 and 16 connecting the said 1200 fourth leg 14 with thetable top 10, are pro of the frame 11. (See Figure 1.).

' hinge connection between the members 15 and I 16 and the legs are thusretained braced in vided with means to prevent accidental breaking ofthe hinge joint between the members 15 and 16. Such means consists inthe present instance of a pivoted latch member 22 pivoted to the member15 and at its free end engageable with a spring keeper member 23 on theleaf 16. V

The members 15 and 16 of the respective hinges or brace members attheir-adjacent ends are hingedly connected together as at 24:.

It will be further noted that the bars 13 are hinged inwardly from theedges of the table top 10, so that when the legs are in a foldedcondition, that is, in a position engag ing the under face of the tabletop 10 parallel I to the bars 13, said legsare disposed between the bars13 and the correspondingportions In this manner the legsare locked in afolded position since the legs provide stop means-for limiting swingingmovement of the bars13.

When the legs are in the folded condition or inthe condition shown inFigure 1, and it is desired to swing the legs to a supporting position,two of the legs, namely the referred to fourth leg, and that one of thefirst named legs with which the bar 13 of the fourth leg is connected bya combined brace and hinge device including the members 15 and 16, are

gripped at the points indicated by X in Fig ure 1.

slightly upwardly and outwardly and the I The said fourth legis firstpulled said one of the three legs is then pulled upwardly and outwardly,and the movement of this last mentioned leg is transmitted to theremaining two legs, and during continued movement of these legs, thefourth leg is also being pulled to a supporting position so that all ofthe legs will substantially move intoan unfolded or supporting positionsimultaneously and at approximately the sametime one with the other.

porting position, latch 22 is engaged with eeper 23 toprevent casualbreaking of the supporting position. 7

To return the legs to the folded or non-sup porting position, the latchmember 22 is moved out of engagement with keeper 23 and upon movement ofthe fourth leg to a folded or non-supporting position movement of saidstood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise form of theinvention shown and described herein and accordingly claim all forms ofthe invention to which I am entitled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In combination, a top member, a plurality of cleats hinged to saidtop, a leg carried by each cleat, a two-part folding brace for each leg,one part of said braceslidably pivoted to the leg and the other part ofsaid brace fixed to the cleat of the next adjacent leg, whereby themovement of one leg is transmitted through the brace to the nextadjacent leg.

2. In a table, a tabletop, a plurality of cleats hinged to said top, aleg'carried by each cleat, and acollapsible brace connecting each legwith the clea-t of the next adjacent pable of transmitting movement fromany 3) leg to each of the other legs.

4:. In a folding table, a plurality of cleats hinged to the table, and aleg carried by each cleat so as to fold against the table, anoperative'connection from each of threelegs to the cleat of an adjacentleg, and a similar connection from a fourth leg to the top.

5. In combination, a top member, a plurality of supporting legs, meanshingedly connecting said legs with said top so as to fold thereagainst,collapsible braces connecting adjacent legs, an additional leg, meanshingedly connecting the additional leg to said top, and a collapsiblebrace havingone end slidably pivoted to said additional leg and itsopposite end pivoted directly to said tops 6. In a foldingt-able, atable top, a plurality of cleats hinged to said top, a leg carried byeach'cleat, aftwo-part folding brace When the legs are in the unfoldedor sup- 'two-part brace having one part slidably 1 pivoted to the lastnamed leg and the other part pivoted directly to said top. a V Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHAR-LES G. PASSANANTE.

leg will be transmitted therefrom to the several remaining legs, thehinge joints between the members 15 and 16 being successively broken aseach leg moves to its folded or nonsupporting position.

Even though I have herein shown and described theinvention as applied toatable, i

it is apparent that the same may be applied to a chair, pedestal'or'like article of furniture and accordingly it is to be further under-

